Jesus Beside Us

The night Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, he told his disciples that he would not be drinking the fruit of the vine with them again till the kingdom of God had come (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:15, 18). This would be the last Passover meal he would observe with them; the shedding of his blood and the giving of his body would happen the next morning. For our purposes today, the point is that he would drink it with his disciples when the kingdom had come.

As surely as he ate three days later with the two men in Emmaus (Luke 24:30-31) after his resurrection, he is “present” with us here as we observe these reminders of his crucifixion. By picturing him beside us as well, our participation in this meal takes on a reality that sets the tone for the week ahead. His presence makes this a sacred moment, and this eucharist becomes a sacrament. That, in turn, makes sacred the week that grows out of this moment as he continues beside us to guide us, comfort us, and strengthen us.